Liverpool thrashed West Ham United 5-0 at the London Stadium to stretch their Premier League lead to eight points on Sunday with Mohamed Salah once again in irrepressible form.

Salah scored one goal to take his tally for the season to 20 and assisted for two others as Liverpool outclassed their hosts once more.

Liverpool had to wait 30 minutes for their opener but once Luis Diaz gave them the lead they were unstoppable. Salah set up Cody Gakpo for his side's second and then made the result a formality with a close-range shot to make it 3-0 at halftime.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's deflected shot extended Liverpool's lead and Salah then produced a silky run and pass to feed Diogo Jota to round off a great day for Arne Slot's side.

Liverpool have 45 points from 18 games with surprise package Nottingham Forest behind them on 37 having played a game more.

West Ham vs Liverpool latest

• Five-star Liverpool send another statement at hapless West Ham

• Liverpool ratings vs West Ham: Remarkable Salah extraordinary again

• Lopetegui sees West Ham change fall on its face in alarming display

• Slot makes big claim about Liverpool performance after West Ham rout

• Julen Lopetegui admits West Ham worry after heavy defeat to Liverpool

Good night!

20:40 , Jonathan Gorrie

Thanks for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of West Ham’s 5-0 loss to Liverpool.

Find our report, ratings, analysis and reaction below!

Julen Lopetegui admits West Ham worry after heavy defeat to Liverpool

20:39 , Jonathan Gorrie

Julen Lopetegui admitted he is “worrying” about the number of goals West Ham have been conceding against the best teams, following the Hammers' latest heavy defeat.

West Ham lost 5-0 at home to Liverpool on Sunday, conceding at least three goals in a match for the eighth time already this season.

Read the full story here!

Slot makes big claim about Liverpool performance after West Ham rout

20:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arne Slot said his Liverpool side could have scored even more goals than the five they managed in Sunday’s 5-0 win at West Ham.

The Reds found the net three times in the first half and twice in the second en route to a handsome victory at the London Stadium which saw them move eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

The sizeable victory came just seven days after Liverpool hit six in a thrilling 6-3 win over Tottenham, and the Reds scored more than one goal in seven of their eight games in December.

Read the full story here!

Lopetegui sees West Ham change fall on its face in alarming display

19:58 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham's switch to a back five was supposed to deliver greater defensive solidity and close the gaps available for Liverpool to attack. It could therefore scarcely have been more alarming for Julen Lopetegui quite how routine an evening this was for Arne Slot’s men.

Catching the tail-end of three straight seasons in Europe, of David Moyes’s tenure, and the start of Lopetegui’s, 2024 has been a testing year for the Hammers.

Read the full story here!

West Ham 0-5 Liverpool

19:25 , Jonathan Gorrie

Standard Sport’s Dom Smith sums up the action....

Liverpool ratings vs West Ham: Remarkable Salah extraordinary again

19:18 , Jonathan Gorrie

Liverpool moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League as they thrashed West Ham 5-0 at the London Stadium.

Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah all found the net within a 14-minute period in the first half.

Trent Alexander-Arnold then scored via a deflection to make it 4-0, before Liverpool’s handsome victory was rounded off by substitute Diogo Jota late on to mark a perfect end to 2024 for the Premier League leaders.

Dom Smith was at the London Stadium to rate the Liverpool players’ performances…

Five-star Liverpool send another statement at hapless West Ham

19:12 , Jonathan Gorrie

Liverpool put five goals past West Ham without reply to tighten their grip on the Premier League title race.

Read the full story here!

FT: West Ham 0-5 Liverpool

19:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

Another commanding win for Liverpool as West Ham booed off!

Dom Smith at the London Stadium

19:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

This has been an ugly, ugly afternoon for West Ham. The defending has been atrocious, and they deserve the battering they have been given by ruthless Liverpool. Not a memorable end to the year for the Hammers.

GOAL! West Ham 0-5 Liverpool | Diogo Jota '83

19:00 , Jonathan Gorrie

83 mins: GOAL!

Ah, well now they do anyway.

Salah plays in Jota after a Liverpool break and the forward finishes well. Great play from Salah.

West Ham 0-4 Liverpool

18:58 , Jonathan Gorrie

81 mins: Areola denies Van Dijk to stop things getting REALLY ugly for West Ham.

West Ham 0-4 Liverpool

18:50 , Jonathan Gorrie

74 mins: Liverpool clear lines before Fulkrug can pounce on Summerville’s cross.

Kudus then hits the bar with a header, but was offside anyway.

West Ham 0-4 Liverpool

18:46 , Jonathan Gorrie

70 mins: Little more than a walking pace to the game now.

West Ham 0-4 Liverpool

18:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

59 mins: Bowen replaced by Summerville...

Dom Smith at the London Stadium

18:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

Alexander-Arnold's shot flies in via a wicked deflection off Max Kilman. Not a soul in claret and blue even attempting to close him down there. This has been woeful from West Ham.

GOAL! West Ham 0-4 Liverpool | Trent Alexander-Arnold '53

18:29 , Jonathan Gorrie

53 mins: GOAL!

Alexander-Arnold’s shot from range deflects off Kilman and beats Areola.

West Ham 0-3 Liverpool

18:24 , Jonathan Gorrie

48 mins: Salah fires wide after a through ball from Gakpo.

West Ham 0-3 Liverpool

18:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

Back underway!

Todibo and Fullkrug on for Alvarez and Coufal

Dom Smith at the London Stadium

18:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

Well that's been an extremely one-sided first half. Liverpool three up and cruising thanks to Diaz and Salah, who have been like coiled springs.

HT: West Ham 0-3 Liverpool

18:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

Smattering of boos at half-time as Liverpool in cruise control.

Dom Smith at the London Stadium

18:02 , Jonathan Gorrie

Salah for 3-0, and there we are. Liverpool surely winners and West Ham surely beaten after 44 minutes.

GOAL! West Ham 0-3 Liverpool | Mohamed Salah '43

18:00 , Jonathan Gorrie

43 mins: GOAL!

Soler robbed of the ball by Mac Allister, who finds Jones.

The midfielder plays it across to Salah, who takes one touch to stop the ball before curling one into the near post.

Dom Smith at the London Stadium

17:58 , Jonathan Gorrie

And suddenly it's 2-0. All in a matter of moments. The centre-backs Mavropanos and Kilman both suffer the ignomony of having been nutmegged by Salah in the lead-up there. Liverpool just looking to good. For everyone.

GOAL! West Ham 0-2 Liverpool | Cody Gakpo '39

17:56 , Jonathan Gorrie

39 mins: GOAL!

An amazing touch to get around Mavropanos from Salah before he cuts back in and tees up Gakpo for a tap-in!

West Ham 0-1 Liverpool

17:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

37 mins: OFF THE POST!

Kudus strikes from range and smacks the base of the post! Alisson was beaten.

West Ham 0-1 Liverpool

17:52 , Jonathan Gorrie

36 mins: Quansah replaces Gomez...

West Ham 0-1 Liverpool

17:52 , Jonathan Gorrie

35 mins: Worry here for Liverpool as Gomez goes down with what appears to be a hamstring issue.

West Ham 0-1 Liverpool

17:51 , Jonathan Gorrie

34 mins: Brilliant touch from Kudus tees up him for a cross, which Paqueta meets.

Alisson, however, collects with ease.

Soler felt he was brought down in the background but VAR have checked it and no penalty given.

Dom Smith at the London Stadium

17:49 , Jonathan Gorrie

Liverpool lead thanks to Luis Diaz cantering forward, getting a nice deflection back to him, and stroking past Alphonse Areola. The opening goal comes just minutes after Kudus's cross flies straight into nearby Coufal's midrift rather than the box.

Hammers face a real challenge now.

GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Liverpool | Luis Diaz '29

17:46 , Jonathan Gorrie

29 mins: GOAL!

It had been coming!

West Ham fail to clear lines after Diaz attempts to play in Jones and the Colombian scores on the follow up.

West Ham 0-0 Liverpool

17:38 , Jonathan Gorrie

22 mins: Areola does really well to punch Diaz’s near-post shot away.

He’s had a busy time of it!

Dom Smith at the London Stadium

17:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

Liverpool unquestionably in the ascendancy, with Jones denied moments ago by Areola and the away supporters beginning to pick up in voice. Key period of the match which West Ham must manage to survive.

West Ham 0-0 Liverpool

17:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

15 mins: Areola stands up again to deny Jones after a clever reverse pass from Salah.

West Ham 0-0 Liverpool

17:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

14 mins: Early flurry of chances aside, it’s been fairly attritional thus far.

West Ham 0-0 Liverpool

17:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

10 mins: Liverpool have had some brilliant chances but have yet to truly get going.

West Ham 0-0 Liverpool

17:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

06 mins: BIG SAVE!

Areola denies Salah from close range after Gakpo’s lovely through ball.

Dom Smith at the London Stadium

17:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

Decent start in possession from West Ham, who have seen more of the ball than Liverpool in the opening five minutes of this encounter. Bowen with a chance to counter there, but his cross was not converted at the back post by Paqueta as the Brazilian slipped at the vital moment.

West Ham 0-0 Liverpool

17:22 , Jonathan Gorrie

05 mins: HUGE CHANCE!

Robertson caught on the ball by Kudus, who finds Bowen.

The England winger plays the ball across to the onrushing Paqueta at the back post but the Brazilian slips and misses the target.

West Ham vs Liverpool

17:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

KICK-OFF!

West Ham vs Liverpool

16:47 , Jonathan Gorrie

No Federico Chiesa in the Liverpool squad again today.

Arne Slot will no doubt be asked about the Italian after the game.

West Ham vs Liverpool

16:38 , Jonathan Gorrie

A look inside the dressing room!

West Ham vs Liverpool

16:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

Could the Ghana star have an impact today?

West Ham vs Liverpool

16:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

Standard Sport’s Dom Smith from the London Stadium...

Confirmed Liverpool lineup

16:09 , Jonathan Gorrie

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Salah, Diaz, Gakpo

Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, McConnell, Danns, Quansah

Confirmed West Ham lineup

16:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Coufal, Kilman, Mavropanos, Emerson; Alvarez, Soler, Paqueta; Bowen, Kudus

Subs: Foderingham, Cresswell, Summerville, Fulkrug, Guilherme, Ings, Todibo, Irving, Scarles

West Ham have reason for optimism going into 2025 but hopes of Liverpool upset hit by key absences

15:58 , Jonathan Gorrie

As West Ham prepare for their final match of December and 2024, it is worth remembering how dire things had got at the beginning of the month.

The visit to the King Power Stadium on December 3 delivered a bruising 3-1 defeat to Leicester City.

It seemed as though Ruud van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge of the Foxes could prove to have been Julen Lopetegui’s last as West Ham manager. The Hammers’ board met to discuss his sacking - only to give him more time.

Read the full story here!

Arne Slot sends Trent Alexander-Arnold warning in response to Liverpool contract question

15:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arne Slot had little interest in discussing the contract situation of his Liverpool stars after a comeback win over Leicester on Boxing Day.

Liverpool moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Leicester, having fallen behind inside six minutes after Jordan Ayew gave the visitors a shock lead.

Read the full story here!

West Ham vs Liverpool: Latest Premier League odds today

15:37 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham: 13/2

Draw: 9/2

Liverpool: 4/11

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

West Ham vs Liverpool: Head to head (h2h) history and results

15:23 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham wins: 29

Draws: 38

Liverpool wins: 84

West Ham vs Liverpool: Premier League score prediction today

15:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham have significantly improved of late but will do well to take anything off this rampant Liverpool side.

It's just one win in 18 for the Hammers in this fixture, across all competitions, and their injury issues in defence will surely be targeted by the likes of player of the season Mohamed Salah.

West Ham 0-3 Liverpool.

Liverpool team news vs West Ham today

15:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

Luis Diaz is in line to start for Liverpool at West Ham after being rested in the Boxing Day win over Leicester.

The big decision facing Arne Slot is who to start alongside Diaz and Mohamed Salah in attack at the London Stadium.

Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended after five yellow cards so Ryan Gravenberch is set to line up alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones in midfield.

Ibrahima Konate is closing in on a comeback but the centre-back is not ready to return.

Konate has been out for a month with a knee injury. He is still not back in training but both he and Conor Bradley are set to be available early in the New Year, with some big games on the horizon.

West Ham team news vs Liverpool today

15:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham will be without Lukasz Fabianski, who suffered a serious-looking injury against Southampton so Alphonse Areola will come in. Max Kilman and Carlos Soler are doubts after also coming off during the win. Lucas Paqueta is available again after suspension.

West Ham vs Liverpool: TV channel and live stream for Premier League today

15:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: This evening’s game will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage beginning at 4:45pm GMT on the former and 4:15pm on the latter. Kick-off at the London Stadium is at 5:15pm.

Live stream: Those with a Sky Sports subscription can also watch the game live online via the Sky Go app.

Live blog: Follow live coverage of Sunday’s game with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog.

Welcome

15:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of West Ham’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Kick-off from the London Stadium is at 5.15pm GMT.